Pedestrian struck by car at Wylie and DeKalb

A 51-year-old man is in a Columbia hospital, being treated for head and other injuries he sustained after being struck by a vehicle Monday evening in Camden.

A Camden Police Department (CPD) accident report listed the victim as Samuel Campbell Jr. of Collins Circle. The accident took place around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Wylie and West DeKalb streets when, according to CPD Chief Joe Floyd, Collins stepped into traffic in an attempt to cross the street to a convenience store.

Floyd said the CPD is not charging the 25-year-old female driver of the 2004 Kia SUV that struck Collins. He said Collins suffered head and other injuries.

“We understand he is currently on a respirator,” Floyd said.

The investigating officer wrote in the report, “The driver … stated she was traveling east on DeKalb St. and the traffic light at Wylie St. was green. A pedestrian crossed the street in front of her vehicle. The driver … stated she swerved to avoid the pedestrian, but was unable to and struck him with the front passenger side of her vehicle.”

The officer indicated that witnesses corroborated the woman’s account.

The report indicated the roads were wet at the time, but Floyd said his officers do not believe they contributed to the accident. The chief said Collins was wearing dark clothing at the time of the accident, which was after sundown.